Sex differences in vision and hearing impairments across age and European regions

Abstract

Abstract Aims Although sensory impairments are common conditions among the elderly, research often fails to consider the role of sex. We examine sex differences in vision impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI) across age and European regions. Methods A cross-sectional study based on a pooled sample of 120,537 Europeans aged 50 + participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations. Results Generally, women reported more VI than men. This was the case for both close vision (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03; 1.11) and distant vision (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.41; 1.57). Contrarily, women reported less HI than men (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68; 0.74). However, sex differences varied by age and regions. Sex differences in VI increased with advancing age, whereas the sex gap in HI decreased. For close vision, a female disadvantage was found from age 65 in Western, Southern and Eastern Europe and from age 80 + in Northern Europe. For distant vision, the female disadvantage was more pronounced and persisted in almost all age groups in the four regions. The female advantage in HI was found in all regions except for ages 80 + in Northern and Southern Europe. For dual sensory impairment (i.e., impaired vision and hearing), no overall sex difference was found, but a female advantage was demonstrated at ages 50–64 in all regions except Southern Europe. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate an overall consistent pattern across Europe with a female disadvantage in vision but an advantage in hearing.